Thermostatic fire-alarm.



L. 0. MILLER. THBRMGSTATIG FIRE ALARM. APPLIOATION FILED OOT. 17, 1908.

Patented Sept. 29,1914.

THE NuRRls PETERS CO..PH010-LITHO.. WASHING mu. 0 c.

Louise. MILLER, or vnnonn, NEW JERSEY.

rnnmaosrarro FIRE-ALARM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 17, 1908.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

Serial No. 458,175.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, Louis C. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Verona, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thermostatic F ire-Alarms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in fire alarms and particularly relative to thermostatic fire alarms. Heretofore in devices of this kind a solder capable of fusing at a low temperature has been employed to hold ertain mechanism in a locked position and the operation of melting the same has released suitably constructed trains of mechanism to operate bells or other alarm signals, but it was necessary as soon as the solder had become fused to take down the device and remelt the solder to readjust the parts in locked or normal position.

This invention therefore comprehends the utilization of the movement of, a compound body which is held in locked or normal position by solder capable of fusing at a low degree of heat, whereby the movement of the compound body releases the train of mechanism, actuates an alarm and by the same operation locks the compound body in such position that it can be immediatelyutilized again to return the signal-actuating mechanism to its normal or locked position.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an effective train capable of actuating the hammer of an alarm bell and suitable means connected thereto and actuated thereby for releasing or locking. the alarm train. The compound governing element which is designed to release or look this train is preferably composed ,of metallic disks pivotally connected and provided with extending arms, the edge of one set of which bears against the edge of the arm of the opposite plate. These plates are secured together by means of solder which is capable of fusing at from about 130 to 160 degrees and the idea that is utilized in this invention is the application of a spring pressure to the end of thedistendedradial arms while the solder is in fused condition, thereby causing the said arms to rotate around their axes until the inside edges of the said arms abut against each other, as will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 represents a sectional view of an alarm bell with the necessary mechanism to actuate the same,showing thetrain in nor mal or locked position and the compound governing element utilized as a key to lock the same in such position. Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the same with the bell re moved. Fig. 3 represents a partial section similar to Fig. 1 showing the alarm-actuating mechanism released and the jaws of the compound governing key closed together by the tensionof the spring while the solder is in fused condition. Fig. 4- represents a detail in perspective of the key gate. Fig. 5 represents a plan view of the key showing in dotted lines the preferred arrangement of the solder groove. :Fig. 6 is a central sec tion of the same, and Fig 7 is a front view of the-governing key closed as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 8 represents an adaptation of the governing key for electrical purposes.

An ordinary gong hell or. is suitably secured to a hollow upright d located centrally on the top of a train of gearing that comprises a convenient main spring and train of gears and an escapement 79 that carries the hammer arm 0 and hammer 0. This train of gears is attached in the usual manner by means of a plate 6 to ablock or other suitable base 0 which is provided with a central perforation and in which the winding nut Z of the train is located.

The particular operative mechanism necessary in my device comprises an up right standard it suitably pivoted and sliding in the frame of the train and provided at its lower end with a shoulder h and a cam shoulder h. Intermediate of the top of the frame and the shoulder 7. is located a spiral spring 2'. Onthe top of the frame of the train is located a trunnion support 9 in which is pivoted alever arm 7. This lever arm enters the perforation in the spring-controlled upright h and also enters a perforation in the bell-supporting standard (Z and is adapted to bear upon the bottom of a plunger 70 which operates within the hollow standard d. Secured to and projecting above the upper portion of the bell is a grooved tube 7 which is designed to contain a compound governing key socket.

The governing key, as shown in the drawings, consists of two disks, 1 and 2, pivoted together by means of a rivet 1 and secured together by means of solder contained in complementary roughened grooves 3.

i (It The disk 1 is provided with two arms extending approximately radially therefrom on opposite sides of the disk but not at right angles to each other, and so arranged that the lower face of each arm shall form an exact radius from the pivotal point but the upper part of the arm shall lie above the same and the ends of these arms are bent slightly inward. The disk 2 is provided with arms arranged in the same manner and bent slightly inward. The arms are bent inwardly so that when the disks rotate on their pivot it will be impossible for the arms located on the opposite disk to pass by each other thereby forming a limitation to the rotation of the same. This compound governing key is designed to be inserted in the key socket, to be hereinafter described, when the arms thereof are in distended position and thereby force down the lu ger and the inner end of the lever f elevate the outer end of the lever f, thereby bringing he cam it a ainst the bell hammer bar and holding the same rigid.

I have shown in Fig. 4: adetail of the compound governing key socket, wherein the socket is represented as a notch a located in the top of the plunger 70, and a notch m located in the bottom of the top extens en o he tube .7

In Fig. 1, I have illustrated my device in its normal position wherein the bell hammer is held out of operative relationship with the bell and in Fig. 2, which occurs when the compound governing key acts un der the influence of heat, I have shown the spring 2' expanded whereby the plunger is is thrown upward or released and the cam thrown downward so that the bell hammer bar is free to oscillate against the bell under the impulse allowed by the escape ment 7:. During this operation an alarm will be given and the two jaws, 1, 2, of the compound governing key will be brought together under the pressure of the spring 2" and the alarm will continue to sound until the compound governing key is removed and the solder therein allowed to cool; the distended arms on the opposite a roughened or interrupted surface shall impinge upon the solder and not only prevent the solder from running out between the disks of the key but also facilitating the cooling of the same and the resetting uniformly between the disks.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a possible adaptation of my device for the purpose of completing an electric circuit and ringing the alarm.

Having now dcscribcd my invention what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An alarm provided with suitable operating mechanism; means for normally holding the operating mechanism out of action, said means including a key composed of a plurality of elements of high heat resistance held set in a. normal position by a fusible means, whereby said fusible means, when subjected to heat of predetermined degree, will release the elements of said key thus releasing the alarm-operating mechanism, and said key also including means by which the fusible means will also reset said elements in a relatively fixed position when the heat influence ceases.

2. An alarm provided with suitable operating mechanism; means for normally holding the operating mechanism out of action, including a key composed of relatively rotatable members of high heat resistance hold set in a normal position by a fusible means, whereby said fusible means, when subjected to heat of predetermined degree, will release the members of said key thus releasing the alarm-operating mechanism, and said key also including means by which the fusible means will also reset the said members in a relatively fixed position when the heat influence ceases.

3. An alarm provided with suitable operating mechanism; means for normally holding the operating mechanism out of action, including a key composed of members each provided with a plurality of arms extending in difierent directions; and fusible means for holding said members set in a normal position, whereby said fusible means, when subjected to heat of predetermined degree, will release the members of said key thus releasing the alarm-operating mechanism, and said key also including means by which the fusible means will also reset the said members of said key in a relatively fixed position when the heat influence ceases.

al. An alarm provided with suitable operating mechanism; means for normally holding the operating mechanism out of action, including a key composed of a plurality of connected members having a high heat resistance; a key-socket comprising a stop for limiting the movements of said members; and fusible means in engagement with the members of said key to normally hold the same in a set condition, whereby said. fusible means, when subjected to heat of predetermined degree, will release the members of said key thus releasing the alarmoperating mechanism.

5. An alarm provided with suitable operating mechanism; means for normally holding the operating mechanism out of action, including a key consisting of elements m'ovable on and relatively to each other, and held set in a normal position by a fusible means, whereby said fusible means, when subjected to heat of predetermined degree, will release the elements of said mechanism thus releasing the alarm-operating mechanism, and said key also including means by which the fusible means will also reset the said elements in a relatively fixed position when the heat influence ceases.

6. A reversible key for alarms comprising a plurality of members; means for movably connecting said members together; and each member having a pair of arms; and fusible means for holding said pairs of arms in any cooperative position to which they may be moved.

7. A reversible key for alarms comprising a plurality of members provided with cooperating chambers for retaining a fusible substance; means for movably connecting said members; and cooperatin arms ably connecting said members together; and

each member having an arm and a stop, the arm of one member cooperating .with the stop of the other member, in the operation of the key; and fusible means for normally holding said arms and complemental stops, respectively, in any cooperative position to which they may be moved.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 9th day of October, A. D. 1908.

LOUIS C. MILLER. Witnesses:

J. A. VERNON, LIVINGSTON EMERY.

Copies of this patent may be obtalned tor five centaeach, by addressing the Commissioner of Patenti.

. Wnhinzton, D. 0." 

